Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify whether a reduction in the genomic rating of individual bovines in a herd during the course of the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) will impact on the herd owner’s eligibility or whether the animal’s rating at the commencement of the scheme or, in the case of livestock bought in, the rating at the time of purchase, will be maintained throughout for the purpose of eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18551/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) is to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.

The scheme which has a budget of €256 million over the course of the CSP 2023 - 2027 opened for applications on 20 March 2023 and will close on 22 May 2023. There will however continue to be a facility for a farmer and/or their FAS approved Advisor to submit applications albeit with a late penalty up until the 16 June 2023.

While the full detail of the scheme is set down in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, there are a number of important eligibility criteria which participants must meet and continue to meet should they be approved into the scheme.

1. They must continue to submit a Basic Income Support Scheme application in each and every year of the five-year SCEP contract.

2. They must be a member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) by 16th October 2023 and continue to be a member throughout the SCEP contract.

3. They must calve down at least 50%of their "yearly reference number" annually.

4. They must attend the SCEP training course by 15th November 2024.

Failure to meet any one of these four criteria at any point during the SCEP contract will result in removal from the scheme and recoupment of all monies paid out under the scheme to the participant concerned.

In addition to the eligibility criteria set out above, there are five actions in the scheme as set out below.

Action 1 – Eligible Bull / Eligible AI

Action 2 – Female Replacement Strategy

Action 3 – Genotyping

Action 4 - Weighing and Submission of Weights to ICBF

Action 5 - Calving Details and Surveys

Failure to meet some or all of these actions will lead to penalties as set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions.

In terms of Action 1 and Action 2, the date of the first evaluation while the animal was in the herd will stand even if the animal falls in star ratings in subsequent evaluations. For example if a farmer either breeds a five-star bull or buys in a five-star bull but on a subsequent evaluation, the animal has fallen to say a three-star, this animal will still be considered a five-star for as long as the animal is maintained in that herd. If however it was sold to another farmer, that farmer would be buying the bull as a three-star. The same applies to dams or heifers.